Al Mezan Center for Human Rights has raised concerns about 2,650 Palestinians from Gaza who remain in Israeli custody since October, enduring physical and psychological torture. The prisoners have been subjected to harsh conditions, including threats of rape, death, and bombing, with reports of abuse similar to atrocities documented in Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib. The detainees have been deprived of basic necessities and face trials without a defined detention period or specific charges.
This mistreatment has resulted in several deaths, although the exact number is unknown. The Palestinian Prisoner’s Club has identified 22 Palestinians who died as a result of torture or medical negligence. The targeting of Palestinian residents of Gaza is seen as part of a broader pattern of abuse that could amount to genocide, according to Al Mezan.
Reports by the United Nations and other rights groups have condemned the widespread abuse, with recent footage highlighting sexual abuse inflicted on Palestinian detainees. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has detailed torture and mistreatment faced by Palestinians imprisoned since the Hamas-led attacks in October.
Israeli human rights group B’Tselem has also presented testimonies from Palestinians, including those from the Gaza Strip, who experienced severe violence, sexual assault, and other violations in Israeli prisons. B’Tselem reported around 60 Palestinian deaths in Israeli custody since October. They have called on the International Criminal Court to investigate those responsible for these crimes, as investigations within Israel are not possible due to support for the torture camps from state systems, including the judiciary.
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